Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot
On Fridays I like to share experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant. I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.
Something I believe. If you’re on Facebook, you’ll receive a daily notification prompting you to look back at memories you’ve had on that day over the years. For me, any post from about 2008 through 2013 is just cringy. It’s as if I don’t even recognize the person that wrote those words and want to punch him! I recall my mindset and priorities in those years and it’s drastically different than where I am now. As awkward as it is to encounter pieces of the “old me,” it does bring up a crucial point.
If you are living your life properly, you should constantly be evolving. Your knowledge, character, viewpoints, etc. should become stronger and more refined with experience and time. As a result, you are likely to reflect on things you said, ways you behaved, or attitudes you had with a level of regret. Do not allow this to dis-spirit you because it is not a terrible thing. Rather, it simply means that you are willing to learn and grow. Though it can be embarrassing encountering signs of our old selves, it can also remind us how far we’ve come mentally, physically, and more.
Something chiropractic has taught me. There is a patient I still see that may be my greatest success story ever. Nothing had helped this person, and they were unable to walk for 6 months. Within weeks of my care, they walked again and even to me, it was miraculous. And yet, when I see them to this day, they often make snide comments about how I only do it for the money. This is unfortunate, but it’s a reminder of a lesson that my career has taught me.
I’m at my best when I focus only on the assignment. When my job is to get people well and I am treating a patient, I can only direct my attention to that and still be successful. In the case I mentioned above, if I had been worrying about this person’s insurance, their personality, how much I’d profit, or anything else, I never could have helped them. I’d have been too distracted to focus and work through such a challenging case. There are always going to be things that divert you from your goal. Therefore, concentrate your energy on the specific assignment so that you can have the best chance at success. If you do so, the money, accolades, satisfaction, etc. will follow.
An analogy I like. Over the last couple of months, I have been doing a lot of puzzles. I find it relaxing and it’s fun because my kids often like to join in. Anytime I first begin one however, my youngest children continuously pick up random pieces and ask me where they go. This gets old fast, so I taught them that we’d put together the edges first, then build out from there. They got the hang of that, and it became much more enjoyable. This is also how life works.
Your life is never going to come together easily or all at once and will initially be daunting. Therefore, start with a goal or outline of what you want to happen (short or long term). Once in place, you can build around that a little at a time. Once things begin to take shape, it becomes easier to identify where the next move should be made, and progress can happen quickly. Puzzles and life are also similar in that you never know at first how everything is meant to come together. It is only at the end that you’ll see that every piece mattered and was necessary to the outcome.
An important concept. Have you ever met someone that wants high level products or services but doesn’t want to pay for them? Certainly, we all have. They desire a benefit yet don’t want to endure the cost; they want something for nothing. This is common and is a principle seen in far more than just goods or services.
When it comes to health, wealth, relationships, or anything else; people often say they want to be successful but are unwilling to pay up. The cost associated with success can come in various forms such as hard work, time, money, self-sacrifice, willingness to change, experience, and more. Until a conscious decision is made to start paying in some of those areas, little will change. Nothing worthwhile is going to be handed to us and we should never expect it to be. We must be willing to pay a cost, and if we do, it can turn into a great investment.
Some quotes I Love.
“Sometimes questions are more important than answers.” – Nancy Willard
“Remember, you will never meet a hater doing more than you.” – Andy Glaze
“This is your democracy. Make it. Protect it. Pass it on.” – Thurgood Marshall
“Where liberty is, there is my country.” – Benjamin Franklin